Smith to be Falcons new coach
The Falcons have agreed to terms with Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to become the team’s head coach.
The Falcons announced the agreement Friday. Smith held a virtual interview with the team on Monday and he also interviewed with the Jets and Lions.
Smith, 38, has served on the Titans staff for 10 seasons, including two as offensive coordinator. The Titans finished this season tied for second in the NFL in total yards.
Under Smith’s leadership, the Titans finished behind only the Chiefs in total offense with 396.4 yards.
The conditional reinstatement of WR Josh Gordon has been rescinded by the NFL, and Gordon is once again under suspension. Gordon was signed by the Seahawks in September despite being under an indefinite suspension. That suspension ended in early December when Gordon was conditionally reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell. ... Broncos LB Von Miller is under investigation by police in a Denver suburb. Parker Police Department spokesman Josh Hans confirmed the investigation, but couldn’t provide additional details. Miller missed the season with an ankle injury.
Baseball: The White Sox have finalized a three-year, $54 million deal with Athletics closer Liam Hendriks, another big move as they set their sights on a championship run. ... Dodgers star Cody Bellinger agreed to a one-year, $16.1 million contract with the World Series champions that avoided salary arbitration. He was the 2019 NL MVP and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year. ... The Brewers avoided going to arbitration with pitchers Josh Hader and Brandon Woodruff by agreeing to one-year contracts with the former All-Stars. Hader signed for $6,675,000 while Woodruff agreed to a $3,275,000 deal.
Golf: Four days after a pair of pars on the final hole at Kapalua led to a playoff loss, Joaquin Niemann holed a 50-foot chip for eagle on the 18th hole Thursday for an 8-under 62 and a share of the lead with Jason Kokrak and Peter Malnati at the Sony Open in Honolulu. ... Ralph Lauren Corp. is ending its sponsorship with Justin Thomas after he was heard muttering a homophobic slur to himself after missing a putt last week in Hawaii.
NBA: Trail Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic fractured his right wrist Thursday night during a game against the Pacers. Nurkic could be seen holding the wrist after swiping at the ball in the third quarter. The 7-foot-0 Bosnian was averaging 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds heading into the game. ... The NBA fined Nets G Kyrie Irving $50,000 for violating its health and safety protocols, and said he could return to team activities Saturday — though he won’t play in the Nets’ game that night.
NHL: The Stars will open their season Jan. 22 in Nashville after a teamwide outbreak forced their first four games to be postponed. Seventeen players tested positive for the virus, leading the NHL to close team facilities and the Stars to halt practice. ... Travis Konecny had a hat trick and the Flyers survived Sean Couturier to an injury in a 5-2 win over the Penguins. The Oilers placed G Mike Smith on long-term injury reserve Friday and re-assigned G Olivier Rodrigue to the taxi squad, pending quarantine protocols.